Plasmodium is a genus of unicellular eukaryotes that are obligate parasites of vertebrates and insects. The life cycles of Plasmodium species involve development in a blood-feeding insect host which then injects parasites into a vertebrate host during a blood meal. Parasites grow within a vertebrate body tissue before entering the bloodstream to infect red blood cells. The ensuing destruction of host red blood cells can result in malaria. During this infection, some parasites are picked up by a blood-feeding insect, continuing the life cycle.
Haemamoeba is a subgenus of the genus Plasmodium — all of which are parasites. The subgenus was created in 1963 by created by Corradetti et al.. Species in this subgenus infect birds.
Plasmodium bigueti is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.
Plasmodium brumpti is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Sauramoeba. As in all Plasmodium species, P. brumpti has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.
Plasmodium brodeni is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia. As in all Plasmodium species, P. brodeni has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are mammals.
Plasmodium floridense is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertaemoba. As in all Plasmodium species, P. floridense has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are lizards.
Plasmodium relictum is a species in the genus Plasmodium, subgenus Haemamoeba.
Plasmodium durae is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.
Plasmodium fischeri is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Lacertamoeba.
Plasmodium wenyoni is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium. As in all Plasmodium species, P. wenyoni has both vertebrate and insect hosts. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are reptiles.
Plasmodium hegneri is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Giovannolaia.
Plasmodium polare is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Papernaia.
Plasmodium lemuris is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Vinckeia.
Plasmodium rhadinurum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Carinamoeba.
Plasmodium mexicanum is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Paraplasmodium.
Avian malaria is a parasitic disease of birds, caused by parasite species belonging to the genera Plasmodium and Hemoproteus. The disease is transmitted by a dipteran vector including mosquitoes in the case of Plasmodium parasites and biting midges for Hemoproteus. The range of symptoms and effects of the parasite on its bird hosts is very wide, from asymptomatic cases to drastic population declines due to the disease, as is the case of the Hawaiian honeycreepers. The diversity of parasites is large, as it is estimated that there are approximately as many parasites as there are species of hosts. As research on human malaria parasites became difficult, Dr. Ross studied avian malaria parasites. Co-speciation and host switching events have contributed to the broad range of hosts that these parasites can infect, causing avian malaria to be a widespread global disease, found everywhere except Antarctica.
Plasmodium juxtanucleare is a species of parasite in the family Plasmodiidae. The vertebrate hosts for this parasite are birds.
Plasmodium tejerai is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium subgenus Haemamoeba.
The Sunda zebra finch is a species of bird in the family Estrildidae. It is found in the Lesser Sundas.
